• This piece by Mike Chambers and Adrian Dater of The Denver Post tackles the ongoing fighting/concussion debate with a solemn thoroughness. But what makes it a must-read are the damning comments that former Colorado enforcer Scott Parker directs toward his ex-coach, Bob Hartley. This isn't quite the smoking gun that the concussion lawsuit lawyers need, but it paints a vivid picture of institutional neglect that the NHL's attorneys should fear. Parker also makes Hartley, now coach of the Calgary Flames, look like a pretty sorry human being.

• In a companion piece, Chambers illustrates the impact that outlawing fighting has had in American college hockey. It's not pretty.

• Another former enforcer, Darren McCarty, has a new book out just in time for Christmas gift giving. To give you a taste of what's inside, here's an excerpt that details his memories of his legendary beatdown of Claude Lemieux.

• Montreal writer Jack Todd has a suggestion for the renovation of Hockey Night In Canada: Turn it into something other than a Maple Leafs home broadcast. I'm guessing this sentiment will play well outside of the Center of the Hockey Universe.

• Steve Mason is blogging while the Flyers are on the road for a season-long 13-day trip. If his first entry is an indication of what's to come, it should provide for some entertaining reading.

• Mason's been very good for Philly this season. Jake Voracek? Not so much.

• Ed Willes says the Ryan Kesler who showed up against Carolina is the one chance the Canucks have of turning their season around. He also pushes the case of the forgotten man in Canada's goaltending mix for Sochi.

• Meet the Canadian who got Dennis Rodman into North Korea for his controversial visit last year...and whose next trick will be introducing the NHL to the Hermit Kingdom.

• Shelly Anderson writes that there is a loud sentiment to include Chris Kunitz on the Canadian Olympic team. My take is that sentiment is loud only in the greater Pittsburgh area. Kunitz has some chemistry with Sidney Crosby, but is that enough to earn him a roster spot? Tough to make that case.

• Tyler Seguin was out of the Dallas lineup on Sunday night with concussion-like symptoms. It's a safe bet that he won't be out long, though, judging by how many laps of the press box he did during the Stars' loss to Edmonton.

• It's not that Jack Capuano isn't putting his heart and soul into his team, but the Islanders look like a team that's desperately in need of a change. There are rumblings that their struggles could cost him his job, but he's hardly the problem. The onus should be on GM Garth Snow to find him a legitimate NHL goaltender.

• After suffering through six-straight losses with the Islanders, assistant coach.advisor Doug Weight will finally have something to celebrate tonight: his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.